The FIA has revealed a first look at what 2026 Formula 1 cars will look like - and announced DRS will be scrapped.
The planned rule changes have been described as one of the biggest shifts in the sport's history. The headline move is to bring in new engines which will be more reliant on electrical power, but there will also be chances to aerodynamics regulations.
And that means F1 cars will look different to how they do at the moment. On Thursday, ahead of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, the FIA released first images of what fans can expect to see from the machines teams build to comply with those new rules.
Among the more notable changes will be reductions in the size and weight of the cars. Currently, F1 machines are bulkier and heavier than ever, but the FIA promises that 2026 cars will be 30kg lighter and therefore more efficient.
Aerodynamics have also been tweaked to best suit the new engines and the energy management requirements that come with greater reliance on electric power. There will be an even split between the electric and internal combustion, and they will run on 100 percent sustainable fuel.
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The FIA also announced a new 'Manual Override Mode' which it says will increase overtaking opportunities by giving the driver more electrical power deployment when making a move. This will replace the existing DRS (Drag Reduction System) which has been used for 15 years but which has been divisive among fans.
FIA single seater director Nikolas Tombazis said: "With this set of regulations the FIA has sought to develop a new generation of cars that are fully in touch with the DNA of Formula 1 - cars that are light, supremely fast and agile but which also remains at the cutting edge of technology.
The new-look F1 cars for the 2026 season (FIA)"To achieve this we worked towards what we called a 'nimble car' concept. At the centre of that vision is a redesigned power unit that features a more even split between the power derived from the internal combustion element and electrical power."
Other changes to the chassis include a reduction in the width of the floor, from where so much downforce is generated, which reduces downforce by 30 percent and drag by 55 percent. Front tyres will be reduced in width by 25mm and the rears by 30mm, which the FIA says will lead to only a "minimal" loss of grip.
Front wheel arches will be removed and the front wing will be 10cm narrower than those on current cars. Several safety improvements have also been made, including stronger roll hoops, brighter lights on the rear of the car for cars stopped on track and a two-stage structure to ensure the front breaks off the car in a safe place in the event of a crash.
The new-look F1 cars for the 2026 season (FIA)F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said: "These regulations mark a significant moment in the future of our sport as we look forward to a new generation of car and power unit that aims to give our fans closer and exciting racing.
"The new sustainably fuelled hybrid power unit presents a huge opportunity for the global automotive industry, the drop in fuel has the potential to be used by cars around the world and dramatically cut emissions. Its potential is one of the key reasons why we will have a record number of engine suppliers in Formula 1 in 2026.
"We enter this new regulatory cycle with the sport in the strongest position it has ever been, and I am confident that the work done by the FIA to create these regulations will further strengthen the position of the sport around the world."
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